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57 Book Covers That Are Not Doing Any Favors For The Author Or The Publishing House (New Pics)
The phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” sounds nice on paper, but if everyone actually followed it, publishers wouldn’t spend so much time and money creating them. And that’s not something we, the readers, want.
The subreddit ‘Terrible Book Covers’ is dedicated to finding the thoughtless, poorly executed, or otherwise baffling designs that were eventually greenlit and sent to print. Turns out, there’s no shortage of them.
We put together some of our recent favorites from the community that got our attention—albeit for all the wrong reasons—and invite you to take a look as well.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Animal Farm By George Orwell
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
Aww, what a happy little story about friendly animals - it'll be just the thing for my little nephew!
RELATED:
#2
Basic Self-Defense By Fred Neff 1976
From a numbers point of view, nearly six in ten (57%) Americans have bought or read a book based solely on its cover, one survey of 2,000 adults has revealed.
Surprisingly, a whopping 96 percent of those who did so say the book largely met their expectations.
However, eight in ten (80%) admit to avoiding a book because of its outward appearance. (Perhaps they're also members of ‘Terrible Book Covers?’)
#3
Emma By Jane Austen
#4
Recipes For Romance By I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!
#5
Little Women By Louisa May Alcott
Respondents said the main reasons for this decision were:
- the cover looked too plain (61%);
- the cover used a repulsive title font (56%);
- the cover featured art that didn’t match the genre (52%), and
- the cover used the movie poster of the book’s film adaptation (49%).
#6
The Metamorphosis, By Franz Kafka
#7
Your Erroneous Zones By Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
#8
We Like Kindergarten
#9
Satan Was A Lesbian, By Fred Haley
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
I still can't believe this is an actual book. But it is. I watched a full run-down of the plot on YouTube. Basically it was one of those w.ank rags posing as a novel which hid its leering depictions of lesbianism behind a façade of "oh it's BAD and WRONG and the lesbian is punished by dying at the end. But before we get to that, please enjoy some more girl on girl action."
The survey also revealed which elements make the best book covers. People noted that a detailed illustration is important (53%), as is an image of the story’s setting (53%).
Other notable mentions were a compelling color palette (50%) and an image of the protagonist (47%).
#10
Jurassic Park By Michael Crichton
#11
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow By Washington Irving
#12
Tilly Mae And The Toothache By Renita A. Burgess
#13
The Old Man And The Sea
Respondents shared what their favorite covers of the books they’ve read were, and the most mentioned were: “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, “Misery” by Stephen King, “Harry Potter” series by J. K. Rowling as well as the “Twilight” series by Stephanie Meyer, and “Fifty Shades of Gray” by E. L. James.
#14
El Retrato De Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde
#15
Crabs: The Human Sacrifice
Whiskey Tango Delicious 1 week ago
A whole wide world of STD related jokes, and this book comes along... 😂
#16
Drácula By Bram Stoker
#17
Make Way For Dragons By Thorarinn Gunnarsson
Additionally, the survey revealed the interesting differences between day and night readers.
If you consider yourself an avid reader, you most likely read during the day rather than at night (88% vs. 69%).
Among day readers, nearly two-thirds (65%) attribute their preference to avoiding nightmares based on the material they’re going through, while over half (52%) simply want to escape to another place, specifically during the day.
#18
Skin Of The Soul
#19
Self-Defence For Women
#20
Psychic Pets: The Secret World Of Animals By Joseph Wylder
Day readers are also more likely than night readers to prefer to read surrounded by others (49% vs. 36%).
However, more than half (56%) of those who read at night said it helps them get better shuteye and fall asleep faster (55%).
If the cover isn’t so terrible that they can’t even look at it, of course.
#21
The Plot Against The “King” Don’t Delete Mods, It’s A Real Book
BeesEelsAndPups 1 week ago
In case you didn't know. The author is the orange dictator's head of the FBI.
#22
3 Guys And A Squirrel: A Slacker's Guide To Adventuring
#23
Im Taumel Des Lebens By Erwin Sittig
#24
A Little Princess By Frances Hodgson Burnett
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
I've read the book and it definitely didn't star a child beauty pageant victim. Heck, the protagonist isn't even blonde.
#25
Schrödinger's Cat By Robert Anton Wilson
#26
The Joy Of Pasta
#27
Regalbop By Leonard Wasserman
#28
Dracula By Bram Stoker
#29
Northanger Abbey By Jane Austen
#30
The Legacy Begins By E C Pando
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
More AI slop, and this time the plagiarism machine saw fit to shove the horse's entire head and neck up that poor guy's a*s. OUCH.
#31
The Gaean Enchantment By T. Jackson King
Toujin C'Thlu 1 week ago
A fine example of pre-Photoshop graphic art. Also, the leaf monster looks like it was made by a kid
#32
His Monkey Wife By John Collier
#33
Hatchet… Amazing Book, Terrible Original Cover. There’s Just Too Much Going On
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
The copy I read in highschool had a b****s hatchet smashing through ice on it. It is indeed a great book. An exciting story, and you learn a LOT about the North American wilderness.
#34
Margaret L. Miller - "Love In The Time Of Coronavirus"
Stephanie Did It 1 week ago
Love in the Time of Cholera is a 1985 novel by Colombian Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez. Maybe Margaret thinks she dreamed it.
#35
Put Your Hands Up! [An Arrest Warrant From God]
Whiskey Tango Delicious 1 week ago
And the follow up book will be S*x Education. Because why let the awkward stop at one book?
#36
He-Man And The "Lost The Will" Dragon
#37
Hi There, High School! By Gay Head
#38
Anne Of Avonlea: That Time Green Gables Was Cursed By A Witch
#39
This Old French Edition Of Bilbo The Hobbit
#40
The Picture Of Dorian Grey By Oscar Wilde
#41
I Am Haunted - Living Life Through The Dead By Zak Bagans And Kelly Crigger
#42
Poirot's Early Cases By Agatha Christie (1979 Fontana Books Edition)
Northlander72 1 week ago
When you say "Man, I'd like to be a fly on the wall for THAT conversation" too close to a monkey's paw.
#43
The Monk (...About A Catholic Monk In Spain)
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
...how the hell did FOUR different cover designers somehow miss the part where it's about a Catholic monk, not a Buddhist monk?
#44
The Gay Teacher, By Randy Reid
Whiskey Tango Delicious 1 week ago
I know it's AI generated, but what a distractingly handsome fellow.
#45
Dorian Gray: What Would You Do?
Toujin C'Thlu 1 week ago
This one actually seems to fit the novel more than the others we've seen. Still looks goofy, though
#46
The Case Of The Lame Canary
#47
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
#48
The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde
#49
Lolita By Nabokov
#50
Fred Durst Coloring Book By Yamaguci A. Hyuga
#52
Baby Consealed By Leah Mills
#53
Candide By Voltaire
#54
Everworld Brave The Betreyal By K.a. Applegate
#55
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
#56
Slim For Him - Patricia B. Kreml
#57
"Watchers" By Dean Koontz
Stephanie Did It 1 week ago
Koontz is known for having dogs in his novels, especially Goldens, and giving them angel-like qualities. It's his tribute to his own dog, Trixie. But I don't see anything hilarious or cringe about this book cover.
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What do you think ?
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
What the hell did poor Oscar Wilde do to deserve appearing on this list THREE TIMES?
Ashtophet’sRevenge 1 week ago
I believe his books are in the public domain now…
Load More Replies... Northlander72 1 week ago
There sure are a lot of New York Times best selling whatevers, isn't there?
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
Speaking as an insider yeah, that label is pretty meaningless.
Load More Replies...
BlitheSpirit 1 week ago
I was expecting to see a horrific Watership Down cover… the cartoon certainly fit that. A CGI version was made several years later; definitely an improvement, although I felt some of the characters’ personalities were altered, not for the better.
sturmwesen 1 week ago (edited)
I watched that at about 8 -10. you can't pay me enough to watch it again....same as Felidae
Load More Replies... Beak Hookage 1 week ago
What the hell did poor Oscar Wilde do to deserve appearing on this list THREE TIMES?
Ashtophet’sRevenge 1 week ago
I believe his books are in the public domain now…
Load More Replies... Northlander72 1 week ago
There sure are a lot of New York Times best selling whatevers, isn't there?
Beak Hookage 1 week ago
Speaking as an insider yeah, that label is pretty meaningless.
Load More Replies... BlitheSpirit 1 week ago
I was expecting to see a horrific Watership Down cover… the cartoon certainly fit that. A CGI version was made several years later; definitely an improvement, although I felt some of the characters’ personalities were altered, not for the better.
sturmwesen 1 week ago (edited)
I watched that at about 8 -10. you can't pay me enough to watch it again....same as Felidae
Load More Replies...
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